Spring-tire for vehicle-wheels



A. B. NIX.

SPRING TIRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FIYLED OCT. 15, 1918. v

1 ,34 1 ,576. a ented May 25, 1920.

ITE STATES ALLEN B. NIX, OF NEAR HOWARD, KANSAS.

SPRING-TIRE FOR VEHICLE-WHEELS.

Application filed October 15, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN B. NIX, a citizen 0f the United Statesresiding near Howard, in the county of l llk and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Spring-Tire for Vehicle-\Vheels, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has reference to a spring tire for vehicle wheels.

The object of the invention is to produce a tire entirely constructed ofmetal having a resiliency sufficient to absorb all shocks and jars towhich the wheel is subjected and consequently produce a tire which willpractically have all of the advantages of a pneumatic tire and whichwill eliminate the disadvantages of such tires.

A further object of the invention is to produce a spring tire in thenature of a split band constructed of a plurality of angularly disposedmembers, the said band being of a length to properly encircle the rim ofa wheel and having means whereby the ends thereof may be easily and conveniently connected to the rim and folly of the wheel.

A further object of the invention is to produce a spring tire comprisinga plurality of connected plates, each of which being formed with anarched portion having an ofiset end, the offset end portion of each ofthe sections being connected to the arched portion of the adjacent orco-acting section, while means. is employed for securing the tire on thefolly of a wheel.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of thischaracter in which a flanged rim is employed and in which the connectedends of the spring elements constituting the tire are arranged wherebylateral movement of the tire will be prevented, and also whereby alimited yielding movement of the sections constituting the tire will bepermitted.

Other objects and advantages will present themselves as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle wheel illustrating theapplication of the improvement, parts being broken away and parts beingin section.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, illustrating the manner in which the endsections of the tire are secured to the rim and felly of the wheel.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Serial No. 258,308.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the leaf spring members of the tire.

In the drawings 7 indicates a wheel felly on which is arranged a rim2'), the same having its edges provided with outstanding continuousflanges.

.Between the flanges is arranged my improved spring tire which isbroadly indicated by the character a. The sections constituting the tireare in the nature of leaf springs, each comprising a plate 0 which isarched for the major portion of its length but which has one of its endsarranged, angularly or offset with respect to the arched portionthereof. The offset ends of the leaf springs are provided with spacedopenings 9, as are also the arched portions thereof.

In assembling the tire, the offset ends of the leaf springs are arrangedunder and in contacting relation with the leaf springs to which they areconnected. The offset end of each spring is brought to register with theopenings g in the arched portion of the overlying leaf spring andconnecting means (Z d are inserted through such registering openings.One of the overlying leaf springs is provided with an additional openingoutward of the openings 9 in the arched portion thereof and this openingregisters with an opening in the arched portion of the underlying leafspring. Passing through these last mentioned registering openings aswell as through registering openings in the rim Z) and felly 7' is asecuring bolt 6 which fastens the tire to the wheel. This bolt isengaged by a nut, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, andin this manner the tire is secured to the wheel.

In applying my improvement to a wheel I have found it necessary toemploy a tool of a peculiar construction, such as is illustrated in Fig.2 of the drawings. This tool constitutes a lever i which has one of itsends widened as at it", and which has secured at the said widened endlinks it and h, the

latter having their free ends looped. The

ticular and peculiar arrangement of the leaf springs, especially withrespect to the connections therebetween, and also the arrangement of thetire in the groove or between the flanges of the rim prevent theaccumulation of dirt or foreign matter between the leaf springs, anysuch accumulation being removed by the yielding of the leaves,- and alsothat the tire is held effectively against lateral movement by itscontacting engagement with the flanges of the rim. In other words, thewidth of the leaf springs is substantially equal to the distance betweenthe flanges of the rim. In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown theelements (Z passing through the end leaf springs of the tire. This isnot an absolute necessity, and as a matter of fact the bolt 0 issufficient to connect the end leaf springs. However, when the same areconnected as shown by the elements (Z, the said elements are passedthrough the openings in the lower or underlying leaf spring and arepermitted to pass through the openings in the overlying leaf spring.When the latter is brought against the underlying leaf spring theelements may be headed by the ordinary tool spaced between the lappingsprings, but preferably, when means is employed for connecting the saidend springs, said means is in the nature of nuts and bolts. It will beapparent that the nuts may be readily screwed on the pro jecting ends ofthe bolts that pass through the overlying leaf spring.

It is thought, from the foregoing description, when taken in connectionwith the drawings, the simplicity of the construction and the advantagesthereof willbe readily to the rim and felly. v

ALLEN B. NIX,

apparent without further detailed descrip-

